Method for navigating between sections in a display space

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method for navigating between sections in a display space is furnished. The sections in the display space are each assigned to a particular location of the display space, and representatives are provided which are each assigned to a particular section in the display space using an unambiguous relation. The method for navigating includes the following steps: selecting at least one representative that is assigned to a particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation; and navigating to the particular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguous relation with the particular section in the display space.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 from, nonprovisional U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/240,961 entitled “Method For Navigating Between Sections in a DisplaySpace,” filed on Feb. 20, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,523,414, the subjectmatter of which is incorporated herein by reference. Application Ser.No. 10/240,961, in turn, claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 and§365(c) from International Application No. PCT/EP01/03732, filed Apr. 2,2001, and published as WO 2001/75574 A2 on Oct. 11, 2001, which in turnclaims priority from German Application No. 100 16 753.5, filed on Apr.4, 2000. The disclosure of each of the foregoing documents isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method fornavigating between sections or windows in a display space.

BACKGROUND

FIG. 17 shows a method for displaying objects such as, e.g., windows ona work surface. A like method is, for example, used in the operatingsystem Windows by the company Microsoft in order to be able tosimultaneously display several windows on the work surface. As is shownin FIG. 17, first to fifth windows 101 to 105 which are overlapping aredisplayed on a work surface 106. Such overlapping of the first to fifthwindows 101 to 105 may, however, cause a user to become confused, whichmay particularly be the case if many windows are displayed on the worksurface, possibly in a highly overlapping condition. In order to solvethis problem, there exists in this method a possibility of iconizing orreducing the windows, or placing them in the background. This does,however, have only low functionality.

In order to solve the problems in the above described method, somedesktop environments such as those, e.g., of the companies HP, Xerox andSGI, or the desktop environments KDE and GNOME include possibilities ofmaking several desktops or desks available to a computer user.

Such a method is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. As is shown in FIG. 18, afirst view on a work surface 106 comprises first and second windows 101and 102, respectively, and in accordance with the representation in FIG.19, a second view comprises third to fifth windows 103 to 105 on thework surface 106. In addition, first and second representatives 107 and108 are provided on the work surface 106 which serve for being able tocarry out navigation from the first view to the second view, and viceversa. These first and second representatives 107 and 108, respectively,may be provided with the aid of virtual and/or actually existingoperating elements.

The advantage of such a method resides in the fact that throughexecuting an action with the aid of suitable input means, such as e.g. acomputer mouse, it is possible to change between different viewsestablished in advance. Hereby working under less cluttered conditionsis made possible inasmuch as a smaller number of windows per view aredisplayed. For instance in the first view shown in FIG. 18, the firstand second windows 101 and 102 might relate to text processing, and inthe second view shown in FIG. 19, the third to fifth windows 103 to 105might relate to image processing. In this case, the first representative107 might have the name “text”, and the second representative might havethe name “images”. In other words, respective views may order respectivewindows in accordance with topics. In many systems there exists apossibility of changing the names of the representatives in auser-defined way. Moreover the graphic design of the representative mayreflect the optionally different graphic properties, such as e.g. shape,color etc., of a respective view, and/or represent the contents of therespective view in the manner of icons, as is the case in the system ofthe company Xerox.

It is a further advantage of this method that many windows are notconfusingly represented in a single view, possibly even in a highlyoverlapping condition, which have to optionally be iconized and reducedor placed in the background to enable recognition by a user. Rather,each view includes a smaller number of windows.

It is one essential drawback of the above described method that anabrupt transition takes place upon changing from one view to anotherview. Such an abrupt transition is, however, not in harmony with theuser's thought processes, for abrupt transitions do not exist innon-virtual life.

It accordingly is the object of the present invention to furnish amethod for navigating between sections or windows in a display space,which allows for a continuous transition between views.

SUMMARY

To be more precise, in accordance with the invention acomputer-implemented method for navigating between sections in a displayspace is furnished, with the sections in the display space each beingassigned to a particular location of the display space, andrepresentatives being provided which are each assigned to a particularsection in the display space with the aid of an unambiguous relation,the method comprising the following steps: selecting at least onerepresentative which is assigned to a particular section in the displayspace with the aid of the unambiguous relation; and navigating to theparticular section in the display space with the aid of the unambiguousrelation with the particular section in the display space.

By utilizing the unambiguous relation of a representative with aparticular section in the display space and the assignment of thesection to a respective particular location of the display space, oneobtains the advantage that navigation between sections in the displayspace may be carried out in a continuous manner.

Fade-in/fade-out change from one section to another section may, forexample, be triggered by actuation of a representative such as byclicking on it, after which camerawork such as reducing, enlargingand/or shifting takes place in a suitable manner. The camerawork may,for example, retreat from one section until this section and anothersection constituting the navigation target are displayed. Subsequentlythe section constituting the navigation target is approached.

In accordance with one variant of the present invention, navigating isperformed as a continuous fade-out/fade-in change from one section toanother section.

In accordance with one variant of the present invention, therepresentatives have names.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, therepresentatives may be associated with images.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, therepresentatives are elements of an n^(th)-order fractal-hierarchicalnetwork.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, objectsrepresented in the sections are stored.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the objectsrepresented in the sections are elements of an n^(th)-orderfractal-hierarchical network.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, therepresentatives differ in shape, color and/or texture and reflect thecontents of the respective sections assigned to them.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, navigatingis triggered by a user interaction and/or automatically, with automatictriggering being derivable from calculated quantities.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the displayspace is of infinite size.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the displayspace has any desired dimension.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the displayspace is closed.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the displayspace is an ellipsoid or a sphere.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, navigatingis triggered through an inquiry on a network.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the displayspace includes any desired image.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, navigatingis performed with the aid of camerawork on any desired trajectory fromone section to another section.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, a directionof a camera is freely selectable at any point of the trajectory.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, a period ofdwelling at any point of the trajectory is freely selectable.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, thedwelling period is calculated from data.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, therepresentatives are virtual and/or real operating elements.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, one sectionor several sections in the display space are marked, and another sectionor other sections in the display space are displaced by an action to themarked section(s) in the display space.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, the markedsection(s) is/are screen-filling.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, a historyof navigating is used which allows for backward and forward navigation.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, navigatingis triggered through an inquiry on the World-Wide-Web.

In accordance with another variant of the present invention, ameaningful feedback between a representative and the section assignedthereto in the display space is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention shall hereinbelow be explained more closely by wayof an embodiment while making reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 16 are graphic representations of exemplary method steps in amethod according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a graphic representation of a method in the prior art; and

FIGS. 18 and 19 are graphic representations of another method in theprior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, a description is given of the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 1 to 16 show graphic representations of exemplary method steps ina method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 to 16, reference numerals 1 to 5 designate first to fifthviews, reference numeral 6 designates a work surface, and referencenumerals 7 to 12 designate first to sixth representatives.

The work surface 6 serves for displaying respective sections in adisplay space which contain one or several views. The display spacepreferably has an infinite size and includes particular views inrespective particular locations. Representatives 7 to 12 are virtualand/or actually existing operating elements and may have names and/or beassociated with images. What is essential is that with the aid of anunambiguous relation with a particular section in the display space,there is assigned to each representative 7 to 12 this particularsection, i.e., a particular one or several particular ones of views 1 to5, and each section in the display space is assigned to a particularlocation in the display space. Accordingly, within the display spacethere exists a locational relation of each section. Thanks to thislocational relation, continuous navigation may be performed within thedisplay space with the aid of representatives 7 to 12, as is describedin the following by way of examples.

The first representative 7 is intended for representing a section in thedisplay space, with all of the first to fifth views 1 to 5 beingdisplayed on the work surface 6. The second to sixth representatives, incontrast, are intended for singly displaying the respective first tofifth views 1 to 5 on the work surface 6.

As is shown in FIG. 1, a case is being assumed in which the firstrepresentative 7 is selected, as is indicated by the frame around thefirst representative 7, at the outset of a navigation. I.e., all of thefirst to fifth views 1 to 5 are displayed on the work surface 6.

It should be noted that the contents of the first to fifth views aredisplayed as any desired geometrical shapes so as to indicate that mostvariegated objects, such as windows, for example, may be contained inthe views. For using the representatives it is largely irrelevant whatobjects or contents are contained in the views.

If now, as is indicated in FIG. 2 by the frame around the fourthrepresentative 10, navigation is to be performed from a representationof all of the first to fifth views 1 to 5 to the sole display of thethird view 3, the fourth representative 10 is actuated, for example,with the aid of suitable input means. This may be carried out, forexample, by clicking on the fourth representative 10 with a computermouse if representatives 7 to 12 are virtual operating elements on thework surface 6.

As is shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, what now takes place is camerawork to theeffect of the third view 3 by and by increasing in size and the first,second, fourth and fifth views 1, 2, 4 and 5, respectively, by and bybecoming smaller and slowly fading out of the work surface untilultimately the third view 3 fills the entire work surface. Thisnavigation step thus is terminated when the state shown in FIG. 6 isreached. This navigation is made possible by the unambiguous relationthe representatives 7 to 12 have with respective sections in the displayspace.

In a next navigation step, navigation from the third view 3 to the firstview 1 is to be carried out. This is initiated by actuating the secondrepresentative 8 having the unambiguous relation with that section inthe display space in which the first view 1 is present.

As is shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, camerawork in this navigation step takesplace such that the third view 3 is reduced in size until the first view1 and the third view 3 both are visible in the work surface 6.Subsequently the first view 1 is increased in size, and the third view 3fades out from the work surface 6. This is again performed until thefirst view 1 is displayed on the entire work surface 6, and thisnavigation step thus is completed.

The above described camerawork only constitutes one camerawork option.For example, when changing from one view to another view, it is possiblenot to reduce until the view from which navigation starts out and theview constituting the navigation target are displayed on the worksurface 6, but to reduce until all of the views present in the displayspace are displayed on the work surface 6. Such camerawork has theadvantage that after a short accommodation period, a user will acquire afeel for where the respective views are located in an overall context.

What may moreover be provided is a coloring and/or patterning of abackground in accordance with a represented view and/or a graphic designof the representatives which optionally reflect various graphicproperties such as shape and color of the respective view and/orreproduce the contents of the respective view in the manner of an icon.

As is shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, there moreover is the possibility ofproviding a semantic or meaningful feedback, for example upon touch on arepresentative or a view.

For example, as is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, where suitable input meanstouch a representative, the view associated with this representative maybe emphasized. In FIG. 13, the second view 2 is provided with a framebecause the third representative 9 associated with the second view 2 istouched, as is indicated by the arrow in FIG. 13. In FIG. 14, the fifthview 5 is provided with a frame because the sixth representative 12associated with the fifth view 5 is touched, as is indicated by thearrow in FIG. 14.

As is shown in FIG. 15, there moreover is the possibility of touching aregion in the work surface having a representative, upon which therepresentative associated with this region is emphasized. In FIG. 15,for example, an arrow touches the fifth view 5, and accordingly thesixth representative 12 is emphasized, as is indicated by the thickframe about the sixth representative 12. If, now, the region is selectedsuch as by a mouse click, it is possible to enlarge to this region, aswas described above by referring to FIGS. 1 to 12.

Displaying the representatives is not limited to the above describedform of virtual keys. Rather, the representatives may equally berepresented by an image of the display space which is modified in shapeand/or size, as is shown in FIG. 16 by reference numeral 13. Byactuating respective images of the views in the reduced display spacewith suitable input means, the navigation previously described byreference to FIGS. 1 to 12 is performed.

Even though in the above described embodiment merely one representativeis being selected at a respective time, there also is the possibility ofseveral representatives being selected at a same time, and a navigationto all of the selected representatives then being carried out in theabove described manner, so that ultimately the region on the worksurface is represented in which the views associated with theserepresentatives are located.

Moreover the presence of representatives associated with several viewsis also possible. In this case, navigation is performed in such a waythat ultimately the region is displayed in which the views associatedwith this representative are located.

Respective representatives, the associations thereof with particularviews and/or the contents of the views may be modified, newly createdand/or deleted by a user.

One essential advantage of the above described method resides in thefact that a fusion of various desktops with any other desktops and/orintranets and/or internets is possible.

With the above described method, navigation may furthermore be performedas a continuous fade-out/fade-in change from one section to anothersection.

The representatives may, e.g., be elements of an n^(th)-orderfractal-hierarchical network including superordinate and subordinateobjects.

Objects represented in the sections may moreover be stored. This in turncreates the possibility of the objects represented in the sections beingelements of an n^(th)-order fractal-hierarchical network.

As is evident from the above description, the representatives may differin shape, color and/or texture and reflect the contents of therespective sections in the display space assigned to them.

In the above described method, navigating may be triggered both by auser interaction and also automatically. Automatic triggering may hereinbe derived from calculated quantities.

Preferably, the display space is of infinite size and may moreover haveany desired dimension. It is equally preferred for the display space tobe closed. A preferred shape in the display space is an ellipsoid or asphere.

If the above described method is used on a network such as, e.g., asemantic network, then navigation may be triggered, e.g., by an inquiry,such as for example a search inquiry. Such a network may, for example,also be the World-Wide-Web.

Generally speaking, the above described camerawork may be carried out onany desired trajectory from one section to another section. Herein adirection of the camera is freely selectable at any point of thetrajectory. A period of dwelling at any point of the trajectory is alsofreely selectable.

A history of navigating may moreover be used for the purpose of forwardand backward navigation.

With regard to further features and advantages of the present invention,express reference is made to the disclosure of the drawing.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A method for navigating between sections in adisplay space, comprising: assigning a first representative to a firstsection of said display space, wherein said first section occupies afirst location in said display space; assigning a second representativeto a second section of said display space, wherein said second sectionoccupies a second location in said display space, wherein a locationalrelation exists between said first section and said second section,wherein said first section is displayed in an enlarged view on a worksurface, and wherein said second section is not displayed on said worksurface; actuating said first representative until said enlarged view ofsaid first section is reduced in a non-abrupt manner and until both saidfirst section and said second section are displayed on the work surface;actuating said second representative to navigate to said second section;and enlarging said second section in a non-abrupt manner until saidfirst section is no longer displayed on said work surface, wherein saidlocational relation is maintained between said first section and saidsecond section as said first section is reduced and said second sectionis enlarged.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said reducing and saidenlarging are performed as a continuous transition from said firstsection to said second section.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein saidfirst representative and said second representative have names.
 29. Themethod of claim 26, wherein said first representative is associated withan image. 30-31. (canceled)
 32. The method of claim 26, wherein saidactuating is triggered by a user interaction. 33-34. (canceled)
 35. Themethod of claim 34, wherein said display space is an ellipsoid or asphere.
 36. The method of claim 26, wherein said actuating is triggeredby an inquiry on a network.
 37. (canceled)
 38. The method of claim 26,wherein navigating is performed with the aid of camerawork on anydesired trajectory from said first section to said second section. 39.The method of claim 38, wherein a period of dwelling at any point ofsaid trajectory is freely selectable.
 40. The method of claim 39,wherein said dwelling period is calculated from data. 41-42. (canceled)43. The method of claim 42, wherein said enlarged view of said firstsection is screen-filling.
 44. The method of claim 26, wherein a historyof navigating is used to allow backward and forward navigation.
 45. Themethod of claim 26, wherein said actuating is triggered through aninquiry on the World-Wide-Web.
 46. The method of claim 26, wherein aftersaid enlarging, said second section is screen-filling.
 47. The method ofclaim 26, wherein said first section does not overlap said secondsection on said work surface as said first section is reduced and saidsecond section is enlarged.
 48. (canceled)
 49. The method of claim 26,wherein said actuating causes said navigation along a trajectory fromsaid first section to said second section, and wherein said navigationdwells at a point along said trajectory.
 50. A method comprising:actuating a representative of a second section of a display space,wherein a first section of the display space is visible on a worksurface and the second section is not visible on the work surface,wherein the first section is assigned to a first location on the displayspace, and wherein the second section is assigned to a second locationon the display space; and navigating from the first section to thesecond section by reducing the first section on the work surface in anon-abrupt manner until both the first section and the second sectionare visible on the work surface and then enlarging the second section ina non-abrupt manner until the first section is no longer visible on thework surface, wherein a locational relation on the display space ismaintained between the first location of the first section and thesecond location of the second section as the first section is reducedand the second section is enlarged.
 51. The method of claim 50, whereinthe actuating the representative is performed by clicking a computermouse.
 52. The method of claim 50, wherein the representative isassociated with an image at the second location on the display space.53. The method of claim 50, further comprising: providing semanticfeedback upon touching the second section on the work surface.
 54. Themethod of claim 53, wherein the representative is emphasized when thesecond section is touched.
 55. The method of claim 53, wherein thetouching is performed by a mouse click.
 56. The method of claim 50,wherein the display space is a sphere.
 57. A method comprising:triggering a navigation to a second section of a display space, whereina first section of the display space is visible on a work surface andthe second section is not visible on the work surface, wherein the firstsection is assigned to a first location on the display space, andwherein the second section is assigned to a second location on thedisplay space; and navigating from the first section to the secondsection by reducing the first section on the work surface in anon-abrupt manner until both the first section and the second sectionare visible on the work surface and then enlarging the second section ina non-abrupt manner until the first section is no longer visible on thework surface, wherein a locational relation on the display space ismaintained between the first location of the first section and thesecond location of the second section as the first section is reducedand the second section is enlarged.
 58. The method of claim 57, whereinthe triggering the navigation is performed as a result of a searchinquiry.
 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the search inquiry is aWorld-Wide-Web search inquiry.
 60. The method of claim 58, furthercomprising: navigating backwards from the second section to the firstsection.